Local MP, David Rutley, has given his strong support to Macclesfield’s bid for funding from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund, which aims to help support ongoing projects to regenerate Macclesfield town centre.
David believes that funding from the Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) could be effectively utilised to support key regeneration aspirations for Macclesfield, including: further investment in the public realm, going beyond the ongoing revitalisation of Castle Street; cherishing and repurposing historic buildings; and growing and diversifying the town’s leisure and evening economy offer.
In addition, this is an important moment in time to seek FHSF funding, given Cheshire East Council’s recent work developing a new Strategic Regeneration Framework for Macclesfield, to more effectively guide and co-ordinate ongoing regeneration initiatives. Aligning the vision in the Framework with the funding opportunities presented by the FHSF could help to further unlock both public and private investment to deliver on key regeneration aspirations.
Future High Streets Fund funding would also complement other positive initiatives for the town centre, which include a further £5 million promised by Cheshire East Council to enhance the public realm. There are also plans for a new food market in the former Picturedrome building on Chestergate, a further boost for local high streets.
The Expression of Interest bid in the Future High Streets Fund is one of two submitted by Cheshire East Council to the FHSF, the other being for Crewe town centre. The Fund was launched last year by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to support and fund local areas’ plans to make their high streets and town centres fit for the future.
Speaking after his meeting, David said, “With the consultation on the Strategic Regeneration Framework completed, now’s the time to seize the moment and capitalise on the funding opportunities presented by the Future High Streets Fund to help further unlock a truly wide-ranging and ambitious regeneration strategy for Macclesfield town centre. I strongly support the Expression of Interest put forward by Cheshire East Council in the Fund, and will continue to work closely with the Council, local businesses, residents and community groups, in taking this and other key regeneration initiatives forward, and to helping to realise the town centre our community needs and wants."
